Central Area Routes 220229

Last updated 28-08-06.

Route 220 northbound timetable from the 1970s.

Route 220 ran daily between Uxbridge Station and Pinner (Red Lion) via Sweetcroft Lane, Hercies Road, Long Lane, Ickenham, Ruislip and Eastcote Road. In 1954 it was diverted at Eastcote Road to Northwood instead of Pinner, but only ran between Ruislip and Northwood during Monday to Friday rush hours, Saturday shopping hours and Sunday afternoons. This 220 was withdrawn in 1957 and replaced by routes 98 and 198.

The current route 220 was introduced in 1960 replacing trolleybus route 630, and ran daily between West Croydon (Bus Station) and Harrow Road (Scrubs Lane) via Mitcham Common, Mitcham, Tooting Broadway, Garratt Lane, Wandsworth, Putney, Fulham Palace Road, Hammersmith, Shepherd’s Bush and White City, extended during Monday to Friday rush hours to Park Royal Stadium via Harlesden and Acton Lane. In 1966 it was withdrawn on Sundays between Tooting BR Station and West Croydon, and later that year it was also withdrawn in the off-peak on Mondays to Fridays between Mitcham (Fair Green) and West Croydon. Finally, at the end of that year it was withdrawn completely between Mitcham and West Croydon, but extended from Scrubs Lane to Willesden Junction. In 1971 it was converted to one-man-operation and was the first route to use the new DMS-class vehicles. At the same time it was withdrawn between Tooting BR Station and Mitcham. In 1982 the peak hour extension to Park Royal was withdrawn. In 1991 it was withdrawn between Wandsworth and Tooting and replaced by new route 270.

Route 221 was introduced in November 1961 replacing trolleybus routes 521/621. It ran daily between North Finchley and King’s Cross via Friern Barnet, New Southgate, Bounds Green, Wood Green, Turnpike Lane Station, Manor House, Finsbury Park, Holloway and Caledonian Road. It was extended on Mondays to Saturdays and some early Sunday journeys to Farringdon Street. In January 1966 it was extended on Mondays to Saturdays from North Finchley to Edgware via Woodside Park, Mill Hill East and Mill Hill Broadway. In June 1970 the evening service was withdrtawn between Kings Cross and Farringdon Street. From June 1972 the terminus at Farringdon Street was altered with buses now standing at Holborn Circus. The 221 was converted to one-man-operated DMS buses in March 1973. In March 1979 the Sunday service was standardised to run to Edgware in line with the Monday to Saturday service. In February 1992 the service was withdrawn between King’s Cross and Holborn Circus apart from a few Monday to Friday early journeys. In April 1995 the 221 was withdrawn between Turnpike Lane Station and Holborn Circus.

Route 263 was introduced in 1971, running daily between Barnet Church and Archway Station via North Finchley and East Finchley, extended Saturdays and Sundays to King’s Cross Station via Holloway and Caledonian Road, with early journeys continuing to Farringdon Street via Grays Inn Road. In 1983 the 263 was extended from Barnet Church to Potters Bar Garage via Hadley Woods, and further extended on Mondays to Saturdays to Potters Bar Station, but it was withdrawn between Archway and King’s Cross/Farringdon Street. In 1986 the service was rerouted to Barnet General Hospital, with only the daytime service on Mondays to Saturdays and some Sunday journeys running to Potters Bar Garage. In 1991 the Sunday journeys to Potters Bar were withdrawn, with the Monday to Saturday service following in 1994.

This plate is likely to have come from the stop in the bus station at Turnpike Lane between January 1966 and March 1979, when only the Monday to Saturday service was running to Edgware. The 221 usually ran in two overlapping sections, and the Edgware service usually ran from Turnpike Lane, while the service to King’s Cross and Holborn started at North Finchley.

This “E” plate would have come from a stop between Holloway and King’s Cross where both routes ran together. This is also rather unusual in that the word “SUN” is in black rather than red, and is probably an error.

Timetable leaflet for the one-person-operation conversion of route 222 starting 6 January 1973 with print code 1172/37735/26,000. This fold-out leaflet has brief details of the changes and a fare table on the front. Inside are bus stop timetables for the service and on the back are diagrams showing how to use split entrance buses.

At January 1950, route 222 ran between Uxbridge Station and Hounslow Central Station via Cowley, Yiewsley, West Drayton, Cherry Lane, Sipson Road, Bath Road, Cranford and Hounslow West, being withdrawn on 15th March 1961 and replaced by a revised route 223. The 222 was reintroduced in January 1971, again running between Uxbridge and Hounslow following the original routeing. The route has not changed since, other than the service being transferred to London United, and the current routeing is as it was during 1950!

In 1949 route 223 ran in two sections: Ruislip Station to West Drayton Station via Ickenham, Uxbridge Station, Colham Green and Yiewsley using double deck buses, and Uxbridge-West Drayton Station-West Drayton (Mill Road) with single deck vehicles. In 1955 the route was double-decked in its entirety, and ran daily between West Drayton Station and Uxbridge Station, with a weekday extension to Ruislip Station. The withdrawn section was replaced by a new route 224A. In 1961 the 223 was extended daily from West Drayton to Hounslow (Bus Station) via Sipson, Harlington Corner, Cranford, Hounslow West over the withdrawn route 222. Ten years later it was converted to one-person-operation, replaced between West Drayton and Hounslow by a reintroduced 222, and extended to Heathrow Central via Harmondsworth and Bath Road. In 1987 an Sunday extendtion from Heathrow to Hounslow (Bus Station) via the Cargo Tunnel, Hatton Cross and Hounslow West replaced withdrawn route 202. In May 1989 it was diverted via Cowley instead of Colham Green. At the same time school journeys were introduced, detouring via Longford instead of running direct between Harmondsworth and Bath Road, but these were withdrawn just over a year later. The route was finally withdrawn in May 1993 and replaced by a new route U5.

The second plate is one of the plastic ones which superseded enamel “E” plates and vinyl stickers. This type of plate has a fitting on the back which fits into a kind of keyhole mounting on the bus stop flag.

Route 224 ran from Uxbridge Station to Laleham via Cowley, Yiewsley, West Drayton, Harmondsworth, London Airport, Colnbrook, Horton, Wraysbury, Staines, Kingston Road and Worple Road. It was initially operated by TD single-deckers which were replaced by FRs in 1958-59. In 1963 the roadway under the bridge at West Drayton was lowered allowing RT-type double deckers to be used. From 8 May to 19 June 1963 the 224 was extended on Monday to Friday afternoons to Ruislip Station via Swakelys, but evidently the service was unsuccessful. In 1969 Sunday service was withdrawn between Harmondsworth (Hatch Lane) and Laleham. In 1971 Sunday service was withdrawn entirely, and the remainder of the service was curtailed at Staines except for Saturday shop hours and Monday to Friday peak hours journeys. The latter were diverted via Poyle (Golden Cross). In 1974 the journeys via Poyle were diverted to serve the GAF factory along Blackthorne Road. In 1976 the 224 was withdrawn entirely between Poyle and Laleham. It now ran between Uxbridge and Colnbrook (Coleridge Crescent) on Monday to Saturday, and was extended during peak hours to Poyle (GAF Factory). In 1977 the Saturday service was withdrawn, and the route was finally eliminated completely on 22 April 1978. In March 1979 the former 224B service was renumbered 224.

Route 224B was introduced in January 1957 running on Mondays to Saturdays between Uxbridge and Stockley Estate (Mulberry Parade) via Cowley, Yiewsley, West Drayton and Porters Way. It was converted to one-man operation in January 1971 and rerouted to take in Swan Road and Church Road on the way, to replace most of the 224A which was withdrawn. A Sunday service was finally introduced in April 1978, and the route lost its “B” suffix and was renumbered 224 in March 1979.

I’m not sure about this, but I think the Monday-to-Friday-only sections of the 226 would have been between Golders Green and Willesden Junction from November 1964 to December 1968, between Cricklewood and Willesden Junction from December 1968 to November 1971, between Cricklewood and Harlesden between November 1971 and October 1976, and between Cricklewood and Park Royal between October 1976 and October 1978 (phew!).

Weymann-bodied RT 2071 [LYF 9] makes a hard right turn from Edgware Road into Criclewood Lane, with an omnipresent Morris in the background.

Alan Gryfe photo; (one of my few that survived from 1970.)

Route 226 ran from Golders Green Station to Cricklewood (Ash Grove) via Hodford Road, The Vale, Pennine Drive, Claremont Road and Cricklewood Lane. In 1953 it was extended Monday to Saturday to Willesden Junction via Anson Road (and Anson Road Public School, where the webmaster attended classes for a year), Dudden Hill Lane, Willesden, Pound Lane, Robson Road and Harlesden, and further extended Monday to Saturday peaks to Park Royal Stadium via Acton Lane and Abbey Road. In April 1958 Saturday service was withdrawn between Harlesden and Park Royal, and in November Sunday service was withdrawn between Cricklewood (Ash Grove) and Willesden Junction. In 1964 Saturday and Sunday service was withdrawn entirely, replaced by new route 245A. In 1966 evening service was withdrawn between Cricklewood and Willesden Junction. In 1968 Saturday and Sunday service was reintroduced between Golders green and Cricklewood (Ash Grove). In 1970 Sunday service was once more withdrawn, again replaced by a reintroduced 245A. In 1971 the 226 was withdrawn in Harlesden between Jubillee Clock and Willesden Junction, and the peak hour terminal was changed from the Park Royal Stadium to Park Royal Trading Estate. In 1976 service was extended from Harlesden (Jubillee Clock) to Park Royal between peaks, and in 1978 daily service was introduced throughout. In 1984 the 226 was extended from Park Royal to Burnt Oak, replacing the withdrawn 79, now running daily between Golders Green Station and Burnt Oak Broadway via Pennine Drive, Cricklewood, Anson Road, Willesden,Pound Lane, Robson Road, Harlesden, Park Royal Asda (double-run during Monday to Saturday shopping hours), Heather Park, Alperton, Wembley, North Wembley, Kingsbury, Colindale and Grahame Park. In 1987 The route was split in two sections (except evenings and Sundays): Golders Green to Alperton, and Park Royal to Burnt Oak. In 1990 Monday to Saturday service was withdrawn between Park Royal and Burnt Oak, replaced by new route 224 between Park Royal and North Wembley, and a new 204 between Wembley and Burnt Oak. In 1992 the Sunday extension was rerouted to Wembley (Brent Town Hall) via Wembley and Wembley Hill Road, and withdrawn beyond Alperton Station on Sunday evenings. In 1993 a double run was added during Sunday daytime via Alperton (Sainsburys). In 1995 the 226 was withdrawn beyond Park Royal (Asda), replaced by the 224, and the contract assigned to First Centrewest. In 2004 the route was extended in Park Royal to First Central Business Park via Coronation Road.

Route 227 ran daily from Penge (Crooked Billet) to Chislehurst (Gordon Arms) via Beckenham, Shortlands, Bromley and Bickley. In 1951 it was extended daily from Penge to Crystal Palace via Westwood Hill. It was converted to RF operation in 1952, and then to SMS one-man-operation in 1971. In 1972 it was extended on Saturdays from Chislehurst to Eltham (Well Hall Station) via Green Lane and New Eltham, but cut back again to Chislehurst in 1974. In 1991 it was withdrawn between Bromley and Chislehurst, and replaced by route 161.

The second “E” plate would have come from the short section of route between Chislehurst and Eltham for just the two years between 1972 and 1974. It is probably a very difficult plate to find, as are any which simply show “SATURDAY”.

During April 1949, route 228 ran between Chislehurst (Gordon Arms) and Eltham (Well Hall Station) via Perry Street, Sidcup, Station Road, Halfway Street, Avery Hill Road and Eltham High Street, using single deck buses. In October 1960, route 228 was extended on Mondays to Fridays to Surrey Docks Station via Blackheath Royal Standard, Ship & Billet, Woolwich Road, Greenwich, Creek Road and Evelyn Street, replacing route 70. The Saturday service was similarly extended to Surrey Docks Station via the same routeing as Mondays to Fridays, with some early trips projected to London Bridge Station, further replacing route 70 which was withdrawn on this day. However, during October 1968, route 228 was withdrawn between Surrey Docks Station and Eltham, which was replaced by revised route 108A. During February 1984, route 228 was rerouted at Sidcup (Police Station) to run to Sidcup Garage except for Monday to Friday peak journeys when the route was extended to Chislehurst. The Sunday service was also withdrawn at this time, replaced by new route 299 and revised route 161. A month later, the Sidcup Garage journeys were rerouted at Sidcup (Police Station) to run to Queen Mary’s Hospital at Sidcup, and latterly that year, the Sunday service was reintroduced replacing part withdrawn route 299. In November 1986, the route was revised to run as a circular route via Chislehurst, renumbered, 228A (anti-clockwise) and 228C (clockwise). In January 1988, the anti-clockwise service was renumbered 328, with the route being withdrawn in September 1996.

Route 229 was introduced on 21 February 1951 using SRT buses, running Monday to Saturday between Sidcup Garage and Sidcup (Wren Road) via Sidcup Station and Faraday Avenue. Eight months later Sunday service was added, RT types replaced the SRTs, and the routing was revised to run from Orpington Station to Bexleyheath Trolleybus Depot via Orpington High Street, Chipperfield Road, St. Mary Cray Station, Midfield Way, Foots Cray, Sidcup, Bexley Park, Rochester Way and Townley Road. In 1959 the 229 was extended from Bexley (Bexley Park) to Woolwich (Parsons Hill) via Bexleyheath, Erith, Lower Belvedere, Abbey Wood and Plumstead, with Monday to Friday peak journeys running on to Woolwich Road (Victoria Way), replacing withdrawn trolleybus route 698. In 1964 the Monday to Friday peak extension from Woolwich to Charlton was withdrawn. In 1977 a major revision to the route withrdew it between Bexleyheath Garage and Woolwich except for Monday to Friday peak service via Erith Road and Bexley Road to Erith; extended it from Orpington to Farnborough via Sevenoaks Road and Farnborough Hill, replacing withdrawn section of route 51, and supplanted RTs with Routemasters. In 1982 the 229 was rerouted between Sidcup and Bexleyheath via Hurst road and Parkhill Road instead of Murchison Avenue and Elmwood Drive; withdrawn between Sidcup Station and Bexleyheath Garage on Monday to Friday evenings, Saturday except shopping hours, and Sundays; withdrawn between Green Street Green (Rose and Crown) and Farnborough, replaced by new route 261; and converted to one-person-operation with double deck DMS buses. Two monthls later the DMS type was replaced by Leyland Titans. In 1984 the Sunday service was replaced by new route 299 running between Green Street Green and Eltham, but eight months later it was reinstated when the 299 was withdrawn. In 1986 the route was withdrawn between Bexleyheath (Market Place) and Bexleyheath Garage and between Sidcup Garage and Green Street Green, service was discontinued during evenings, early Saturday mornings and all day Sundays, and Leyland Olympians replaced the Titans. In 1988 the infamous Bexleybus Scheme was enacted, resulting in the closure of Sidcup Garage [SP] which had been the 229’s home for its entire life and its transfer to Bexleyheath [BX], journeys from Bexleyheath to Erith on Monday to Saturday instead of just during peak hours, the terminus changed from Sidcup Garage to Foots Cray (Sidcup Hill), and joint operation with route 178. In 1991 the route was diverted at Sidcup to Queen Mary’s Hospital instead of Foots Cray. In 1994 it was extended from Erith to Thamemead (Town Centre) via Belvedere, Abbey Wood and Crossway, evening service was introduced, and MRL (long Metroriders) provided midibus service on Sunday. In 1999 it was diverted between Bexley and Bexleyheath via Bourne Road instead of Townley Road, and Sunday service converted to double-deck buses. In 2000 double deck PVL (Plaxton President bodies on Volo B7L low-floor chasis) buses began operating the route.

Click on any of the tiles below to go to images of the “E” plates and the route descriptions for that number series.